Debate: On Phillies Pitching Significant Innings In the All-Star Game

Debate: On Phillies Pitching Significant Innings In the All-Star Game

An interesting discussion topic was brought up on 610 WIP's Midday Show earlier this afternoon in terms of should the Phillies want Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee pitching significant innings in next week's MLB All-Star Game. We know that Cole Hamels won't be pitching due to his start on Sunday against the Braves, but Roy Halladay is likely one of the candidates to start the All-Star Game for the NL.

Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee has said (video below) that he doesn't really like the idea of Roy starting the game, which would mean Doc would pitch two innings of work on Tuesday. But if any team should be seriously looking for a National League victory and subsequent home field advantage for the senior circuit, it should be the Phillies, right?

Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee have clearly pitched a ton of innings thus far this season, but wouldn't you want them potentially earning the Phils home field advantage in the Fall Classic if the team were to get there?

"I think anybody who knows me or who has played with or against me along the road here, knows that I am not that kind of player," Manning said, according to a statement released by the Flyers. "I am not out there intentionally trying to hurt people. I'm a guy who plays the game hard and I take pride in that."

Gretzky didn't mind seeing that fire in McDavid, saying competitiveness is part of what makes the great ones great. And he said the targeting comes with the territory of being a superstar. It was something he and Mario Lemieux dealt with, too.

"And Connor, he's going to get tested every night, but this is not new for him," Gretzky said Friday at the NHL board of governors meetings. "He's been tested since he was a kid and then playing junior hockey and now in the NHL and he's always responded and done his part."